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Packers Daily Links: Mike Ditka Calls Aaron Rodgers the Best QB in Football

In a question and answer session published in the Chicago Sun-Times over the weekend, former Chicago Bears coach and current ESPN broadcaster Mike Ditka said he considers Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers the best in football history. "I look at guys like [Tom] Brady and [Drew] Brees .?.?. the talent is phenomenal," said Ditka. "The guy up in Green Bay [Aaron Rodgers], I think is the best in football. But that’s my opinion. I like what he does, and I like his leadership qualities. And I think that’s the other thing you have to look at. He has to be the guy in charge. And the team has to know it." Some people might find it surprising that a Bears coach might compliment a Packers player, but the more surprising part is that Ditka was asked about all quarterbacks past and present. That's some lofty praise.

Packers running backEddie Lacy was the subject of a feature article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel over the weekend, in which he discussed his childhood when he was displaced by Hurricane Katrina while growing up in Louisiana. It was an event that affected Lacy deeply and continues to affect him to the current day. "I never really got over it," Lacy is quoted as saying by reporter Tyler Dunne. "I don't really know how to explain it. It's something that I never really got over and I don't know how to get over it still to this day." Lacy also talked about attempting to find true happiness and that football and the prospect of millions of dollars has not always filled the void in his life. Lacy doesn't seem suicidal by any means, but here's to hoping a fulfilling career can help him overcome some of difficult past.

Former NFL defensive end and coach Chuck Smith was interviewed for the weekly column by Len Pasquarelli published at the National Football Post on Sunday, and Smith had some encouraging words about Packers first round draft choice Datone Jones. Speaking about the first-year players he tutored in the offseason, Smith said, “Datone Jones is the most explosive guy of the bunch, (and he) really comes hard with that first blast and has natural (sack) instincts. I think he’s the best rusher. He uses his hands really well, and uses his length to kind of create leverage. I’m really high on the guy.” Smith went onto say that Jones was just scratching the surface as a pass rusher.

Video: Former Packers running back Johnny White, who played four games for Green Bay in 2012 (mostly on special teams) hosted a youth football camp in North Carolina over the weekend...

Brian Carriveau is the author of the book "It's Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America," and editor of Cheesehead TV's "Pro Football Draft Preview." To contact Brian, email carriveau@uwalumni.com.

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The article on Lacy worries me a little bit. He sounds clinically depressed and either needs some medication or to spend some time with a shrink or both.

Terry Bradshaw won 4 SBs in his career but really suffered with depression the whole time so he never really enjoyed it like he should have.

Absolutely love the comments from Chuck Smith about Datone Jones, hope hes right about him because we could sure use a guy like that on the Dline for the next 10+ years or so. If his work at the Senior Bowl is any indication, he should make an instant impact for this defense considering he already knows most of the defense from his senior year at UCLA with Pro coaches Jim Mora and his DC a Dom Capers disciple.

I can't even imagine going through what Eddie has gone through in his life. He and his family had everything they own taken from them by Katrina. Moreover, he has been living in the worst conditions imaginable, waiting for this opportunity to get his family to the suburbs.

My guess is that he keeps his anger inside for lack of an outlet until he gets on the football field. I pity the fool that has to try and tackle this 280+ pound man that wants to take his anger out on each person he sees.

Even if Eddie isn't the running back savior that we all hope he is, I am glad that his rookie contract will be enough to get his family to a better place.

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"I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle – victorious."